Mouse-trap.



No. 64|, 356. Patented Ian. l6, I900.

A. W. AGER;

MOUSE TRAP.

Application filed Nov. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM W. AGER, OF MAPLETON, NORTH DAKOTA.

/ M OUSE-TRA'P.

srnormon'rxon forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,356, dated January16, 1900.

Application filed November 13, 1899. Serial No. 736,817. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM W, AGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Maple ton, North Dakota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mouse-Traps; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in mouse-traps, and has for itsobject to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efiective means fortrapping small animals-such as mice, rats, and the like which when setwill be operated by the animal while attempting to secure the bate, aswill be hereinafter more fully described, and definitely pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in vertical section my improved trap setand ready for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the relation ofthe parts when ready to receive and support the cage or bowl.

In the drawings, A represents the base of my improved device, which ispreferably though not necessarily formed of a rectangular piece of wood,which serves as a base for the pivot-supports a a. These pivot-supportsmay be formed in any suitable manner to provide pivotal supports 1) bfor the levers c 0; but I prefer to make them of stout wire bent intothe form of a staple, as shown, with the free ends thereof inserted ordriven into holes in the base-piece A. On the horizontal arms of thesepivot-supports or staples a a are pivoted the levers c 0, respectively,which are preferably formed of fiat pieces of sheet metal. Thesesheet-metal pieces have a portion of the metal removed at f f and areturned into circular form at that point to provide a pivot or hingeconnection with the horizontal supports 1) b. The lever chas its end atturned upward to provide a rest for the edge of a cage or bowl B, Fig.1, while its opposite end is extended to engage beneath the end at oflever c, as shown. The arms of these levers c c are preferably formed ofunequal length to better distribute the leverage,

though, of course, this is not essential. It is obvious also that thelevers'may be madeof wire, wood, or any suitable material. 1

In setting the trap it is only necessary to place a piece of cheese,cracker, or other bait S beneath the end of lever o, as shown, and thento engage the long arm of lever c be neath the end at of lever o, andwith the parts in this position to rest the edge of a bowl or cage B onthe upturned end dof lever c. A space is thus provided beneath theraised edge of the cage or bowl through which a small animal may pass toattack the bait S, which upon being pulled from beneath the end of lever(2' permits the end d to rise sufficiently to liberate the end of levero, where upon the end 01 of lever 0 drops and allows the cage or bowl Bto fall upon the base A, thus confining the animal within.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim,and desire to securebyLetters Patent,

1. In a trap, the combination of a base, le-

vers pivotally supported between their ends on said base, the end of onelever adapted to engage beneath the end of the other lever and supportat its opposite end a cage or bowl, the disengaged end of the said otherlever being adapted to be supported in set position by a bait.

2. In a trap, the combination of a base, pivot-supports carried thereby,two lovers pivoted respectively between their ends on said supports, oneof said levers adapted to be held in operative or set position by a baitbeneath one end thereof the other lever positioned to engage beneath thefree end of the bait-supported lever, and to support a cage or I bowl onits opposite end.

3. In a trap, the combination of a base, two pivot-supports carriedthereby, a lever pivoted between its ends on each of said supports, oneof said levers adapted to be held in the set position by a bait beneaththe end thereof, the other lever positioned to engage beneath the freeend of the bait-supported lever and provided with means on itsdisengaged end for supporting a cage or bowl.

4. In a trap, the combination of a base,

pivot-supports carried thereby, two levers disengaged end turned upwardto afiord a bent to form a pivot ior hilge connegtion with support forthe edge of a cage or bowl. said s11 orts one 0 sai evers a a ted to beheld i h operative or set position b; abait ADAM AGER' 5 placed beneaththe end thereof, the other 10- Witnesses:

ver positioned to engage beneath the free end SAMUEL MITCHELL, of saidbait-supported lever, and having its ANDREW J. BROWNLEE.

